Another Chance: A Gintama Fanfiction

5. ...the more difficult it becomes to let them go

(Y/N) met Yoshida Shoyo, the soon to be teacher of Shouka Sonjuku. (Y/N) considers him as a part of his family, but the more they know each other, the more difficult it becomes for her to be separated from him, as she is aware of, what his fate would be.

Shoyo really cared about you and loved you. To you, Shoyo was your family. If possible you wanted to live beside him forever and ever.
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But you knew deep down that was impossible.

You and Shoyo went to the ramen shop and as usual you couldn't hold your chopsticks correctly, but according to Shoyo, at least there was some improvement. It was because this time the contents of the ramen did not scatter as much as it would had been earlier.

He continued to watch you with sparkling eyes and smiled sweetly. Even though you should be used to his actions, but you couldn't help but be embarrassed every time he sees you with such childlike face. At last, after giving up, you shifted your ramen bowl towards Shoyo so that he can feed you, which of course he happily accepted.

When it was time to pay the bill, you and Shoyo heard the rumors about 'the corpse eating demon'. You instantly recognized the person in the rumors to be Gintoki. Shoyo was immediately interested in 'the corpse eating demon'. He casually asked the shopkeeper for information which they were happy to provide him.

After exiting from the shop, Shoyo excitedly said to you that they both should make their way to visit 'the corpse eating demon' and you couldn't help but smile at his childlike excitement.

Oh, by the way, you were a little weak under the Sun, so you always wore the hat,Shoyo used to wear. He purchased it for you when he came to know how dizzy you become when you walked under the Sun. (Of course he was so worried when you weren't even walking straight due to dizziness, that he even carried you for the rest of the journey, and you would always fall asleep on his shoulders.)

•••••••••(Timeskip brought by Shoyo-Sensei)•••••••••

Tonight, you couldn't sleep at all. You sat down in a corner beside the fire, holding your knees. Shoyo had already slept. You stared at the fire which was crackling with life.

You suddenly heard the shuffling of grass behind you. Without looking behind, you knew it was Shoyo-Sensei. He sat beside you. "What happened little samurai, can't sleep??"

"Yeah, something like that",you said in a monotone voice. You both then stayed silent for some time until Shoyo decided to break that silence. "You know it, don't you?? You know who I really am, am I right (Y/N)-chan??"
Had it been any other day, you would had definitely denied knowing anything, but now you didn't care. You said nothing as you didn't know what to do, to deny or to accept it.

Seeing you saying nothing, Shoyo continued to speak, "I would not ask from you, how you obtained knowledge about me. The world sure is full of infinite possibilities, isn't it??"

You didn't say anything, you just stared at the fire. "Shoyo-Sensei, you are the only family I have in this world. You have given me everything that a family could give me, the warmth and feelings which I had forgotten long ago. But when I think of being parted from you, to not meet you again, I couldn't help but feel a deep pain in my chest", you looked at Shoyo, tears running down from your cheeks, "say Sensei, is it possible for us to stay together forever, say Sensei!!". You couldn't help but burst out crying.

Perhaps, it was the first time you ever cried. When your parents died, you didn't cry, for you didn't accept the bitter truth that you wouldn't meet them again. You were sure that it was some stupid joke of theirs. But as time passed by, you realized that your parents really died and you wouldn't be able to meet then again. You didn't cry, in fact you couldn't cry, for the reality shocked you very much. You became numb unable to feel emotions. But now if Shoyo died, you would lose all these warmth and feelings. You didn't want to lose someone and go through that pain again.

It was the first time ever in history Shoyo did not know what to do. It made him happy to know that he gave something to you, after all these years of taking everything from others. He did not have his usual smile. He was worried, concerned and maybe sad. He knew the moment he left Tenshouin Naraku with Oboro, that he wouldn't live long. At that time he did not care about dying, but after listening you say this, he wasn't sure if he wanted to live or die. It was the first time ever he wanted to live longer, otherwise he always wanted to die sooner and be freed from immortality.

He pulled you into a hug gently until you have finished crying. After you finished crying, he wiped your tears and smilingly said, "I don't know if I stay with forever, but until then you would protect me, won't you??"

You smiled, you closed your eyes and said, "Yes, I would definitely protect you Shoyo-Sensei."